Divorce can make children ill

Mark Waghorn

The stress of divorce can leave children twice as likely to suffer ill health, according to new research.

A study of hundreds of youngsters found the risk of a range of mental and physical conditions doubled among those from broken homes.

It is not the divorce itself that is the problem but the way it is handled - with rowing couples causing kids stress, which can trigger disease.

Psychologist Maria Seijo Martinez, of the University of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain, said: "Poor handling involves very high levels of interparental conflict, which makes it very difficult to maintain a good relationship.

"If children are exposed to these family situations for prolonged periods, they often experience toxic stress."

The findings published in the European Journal of Education and Psychology add to evidence that couples who split up endanger the wellbeing of children - usually their biggest concern.

The researchers found cases of genitourinary and gastrointestinal infections - as well as dermatological and neurological disorders affecting the skin and brain - all rose dramatically.

They said divorce causes psychological and social stress. having a major impact on the physical and emotional health of all members of a family. Other relatives are also sometimes affected.

So Ms Seijo Martinez, a social psychology student at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain, and colleagues analysed children's health problems related to their exposure to a parental separation.

She said: "It is not the break up in itself that has negative effects on the children's health, but improper handling of the situation by the parents. This is indicated in the scientific literature and validated by our data,"